SH2 must start construction this year

Current BOP Regional Councillor

Please note that views expressed in this column are my personal views and do not necessarily reflect Regional Council policy.

SH2 MUST START CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR

State Highway 2 (from Tauranga to Katikati) is one of New Zealand’s most dangerous roads. We all know it, yet the current Labour/NZ First/Greens coalition government just isn’t listening. In 2017 the then National Government had agreed the highest priority in terms of both safety and road efficiency and effectiveness for this road. The funds ($520m) were allocated for a construction start in 2018. This work was going to start with the four laning of a new highway from Route K (Tauranga) to west of Te Puna.

Our 2 local List Labour MPs went to a meeting in Omokoroa on 5th March, and blamed NZTA for not funding this work – wrong. It is this current government that has put the breaks on this essential motorway. Labour won’t commit the funding, preferring trains and bikes – but our residents keep dying and being maimed while we wait. Shame on you – Labour/NZ First/Greens.

The Regional Land Transport Committee is equally to blame. This is not a Regional Council Committee, although the Chair (Stuart Crosby) and Deputy Chair (Jane Nees) are both BOP Regional Councillors, and the committee is administered by the Regional Council. Their Proposed RLT Plan 2018 is out for consultation, and it doesn’t highly prioritise this dangerous road (just No 11 – behind Rotorua’s Airport route, a cycle action plan, and public transport route prioritisation).

We can’t wait for this route upgrade – how many lives have to be lost before we see action. Step up Angie Warren-Clark, Jan Tinetti and Clayton Mitchell - you represent this current government. A few safety improvements (between Waihi and Omokoroa, with wide centrelines, side barriers and minor upgrades) won’t cut it. Western Bay residents are fuming mad, and who could blame them. They are the ones burying their dead.

How many deaths are acceptable…

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me at andrew@vond.co.nz, visit www. vond.co.nz, or just give me a call on 021-762 440.

Public Transpot a big issue

Our Tauranga City Ratepayers are frustrated with a costly bus system that just isn’t working. There has been copious workshops both at Tauranga City Council (whose responsibility is the roading infrastructure and physical bus-stops) and at the Regional Council (whose responsibility is the bus operations - including the school bus service), but seven months after the last local government elections, there is no sign of real change. Sure in 2018 there will be a new bus contract, and that will include the introduction of an integrated ticketing system (that records when passengers get on and when they get off), but the public want action now – not in another 18 months.

We can’t operate an effective and efficient service without good data (knowing where our passengers are travelling from and to), but this was meant to happen in 2010… not 2018. I get the feeling that our staff aren’t really listening to their elected councillors. An example is that their insistence on going out to the public with a plan for a 10 or 15 minute service between downtown Mount and the Tauranga Hospital on Cameron Road. Certainly you need buses crossing the bridge from the Mount to the CBD at high frequency at the start and end of the business day, but high frequency throughout middle of the day would see a lot of empty buses crossing the bridge!

For me, we urgently need to establish a high frequency bus system along the full length of Cameron Road (from the Domain through to at least Greerton – not just to the hospital). This would be a great start, but it has to go hand in hand with an electronic real-time bus timetable at the bus stops (that tell you exactly when the next bus will arrive). It may be that this also uses a free app on your phone, but unless passengers can be assured that they will get to where they want to go on time, then they won't use our bus services. None of this will be effective unless Tauranga City spent the money on our roading system, that includes a priority lane at peak times for our buses. It isn’t “rocket science”, and we need a commitment to do it now. Otherwise we will continue to have a lot of under-utilised buses, and continued ratepayer dissatisfaction.

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me.

Frustrations & pleasures as a returning Regional Councillor

Please note that views expressed in this column are my personal views and do not necessarily reflect Regional Council policy.

Frustrations & pleasures as a returning Regional Councillor

Having been a Regional Councillor from 2004 to 2010, and then having a spell for 6 years, I am finding it too often frustrating. Yes for 5 of my previous 6 years on Council I chaired our Transport Committee (and the Regional Transport Committee for 4 years). These days I “sit on the back-benches”, but my passion for improving our environment hasn’t diminished.

Last week Staff briefed me on the Kaituna River diversion project – aimed at increasing the fresh water flow to revitalise the Maketu Estuary. When we discussed this in 2008 to 2010, this project was to cost around $4m. Today it looks to be closer to $13m - but I have to say that, having just visited the site, I am very supportive of this project. It has cost too much, and taken too long, to get to this point, but the reality is that it is a great project – that should have great outcomes for the environment. We are finally seeing ACTION, not just words. Well done BOPRC.

Our Regional Council has some big issues to deal with, but we also have to learn to live within our means. Central Government ensured prudence in the public service sector as a result of the GFC (Global Financial Crisis), and it is time for Local Government to wean itself off its “Cost Plus” mentality. Ratepayers can expect me to continue to champion my bi-line “Action not Words”.

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me